nt act of
tyranny on the part of Zoheir, several chieftains, among whom was
Shedad, a son of Zoheir, seceded from the Absian tribe, and set out to
seek adventures, to attack other tribes, and to carry off their cattle
and treasure. These chieftains arrived at the dwelling-place of a
certain tribe, named Djezila, whom they fought with and pillaged.
Amongst their booty was a black woman of extraordinary beauty, the
mother of two children. Her name was Zebiba; her elder son was Djaris;
her younger Shidoub. Shedad became passionately enamoured of this woman,
and yielded all the rest of his share in the booty in order to obtain
possession of her and her two children. He dwelt in the fields with this
negress, whose sons took care of the cattle. In course of time Zebiba
bore a son to Shedad. This child was born tawny as an elephant; his eyes
were bleared, his head thick with hair, his features hard and fixed. The
corners of his mouth drooped, his eyes started from his head, his bones
were hard, his feet long; he had ears of prodigious size, and his glance
flashed like fire. In other respects he resembled Shedad, who was
transported with delight at the sight of his son, whom he named Antar.

Meanwhile the child waxed in strength, and his name soon became known.
Then the companions of Shedad wished to dispute the possession of the
boy with him, and King Zoheir was informed of the matter. He demanded
that the boy should be brought into his presence, and Shedad complied.
As soon as the king caught sight of this extraordinary child, he uttered
a cry of astonishment, and flung him a piece of goat's flesh. At the
same moment a dog, who happened to be in the tent, seized the meat and
ran off with it. But Antar, filled with rage, pursued the animal, and,
violently taking hold of him, drew his jaws apart, splitting the throat
down to the shoulders, and thus recovered the meat. King Zoheir, in
amazement, deferred the matter to the Cadi, who confirmed Shedad's
possession of Zebiba, and her three children, Djaris, Shidoub, and
Antar.

Shedad therefore provided a home for Zebiba, in order that his sons
might be educated in their business of tending the herds. It was at this
time that Antar began to develop his strength of body, his courage, and
intelligence. When he was ten years of age he slew a wolf which
threatened to attack the herds committed to his charge. Although brutal,
headstrong, and passionate, he early exhibited a love of just